As part of DanceSyndrome’s mission to change the way that people think about learning disabilities, we have launched new film series encouraging people to consider a career in Learning Disability Nursing.
DanceSyndrome was commissioned by NHS England to create some short, informational videos which demonstrate that people with learning disabilities can live fulfilled lives when given the right support and how fulfilling and rewarding it can be to work as a Learning Disability Nurse.
The videos present inspiring case studies of people with learning disabilities who have had life-changing support from Learning Disability Nurses and current Learning Disability Nurses and students who talk about their career progression and why they love the role.
DanceSyndrome Dance Leader, Jodie Turner, is introduced in one the films. Jodie and her parents discuss the vital need for Learning Disability Nurses in Jodie’s life, and they introduce viewers to Alice Waddington, who was a trainee nurse when she first met Jodie. Alice is now a fully qualified Learning Disability Nurse and through the video we follow a day in her life and get to see how much she enjoys her role. The series also introduces a number of other nurses who also speak about their passion for the job, their personal reasons for choosing a career in nursing and why it is such an important part of who they are, creating a strong message throughout the series of films about the need for the role and why it’s important that more people join the profession.
DanceSyndrome Managing Director Julie Nicholson said “When NHS England came to us with this project, we were really excited to get involved. One of the most important parts of our mission is to change the way that people think about people with learning disabilities and what they can achieve with the right support. We know how important it is to get that support right in all aspects of a person’s life, so we truly value the role of Learning Disability Nurses and the significant impact that they can have through their career.
“We hope that the films highlight the importance of supporting people with learning disabilities and why it’s important that we work towards a society that is truly inclusive and accessible. We are proud of the films because you can clearly see what good care looks like, how passionate people in the profession are and you can truly understand why we need more people to become Learning Disability Nurses.
“DanceSyndrome has always aspired to extend our inclusive practices and impact beyond the dance world and into society in general and we hope that these films will inspire people to think about a career working with people with Learning Disabilities.”
Ellie Gordon, Senior Nurse for Learning Disability and Mental Health in the national NHS Workforce, Training and Education Directorate, said, “I do hope these films will support people with learning disabilities by inspiring people to think about a career working with people with learning disabilities and highlight why it is so important that we create a truly inclusive society.
“DanceSyndrome takes a unique and totally different approach to co-production where people who don’t have a learning disability lead the work and involve those with a learning disability. The videos that have been created speak not only to people with learning disabilities but also to learning disability nurses.”
If you are inspired by the films and would like to know more about careers in Learning Disability Nursing, please visit the NHS Health Careers Website
You can view the full playlist of videos on our YouTube Channel.
Thank you to Mike Berry at Everyone Media for his work on these films. If you would like to read more about our partnership with Mike, please visit the Corporate Partnerships page on our website.
